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Saturday, February 26, 2011

Cutting Bias Binding Video Tutorial

As promised, here is the video tutorialfor cutting bias binding. A number of people cut straight strips for binding. I did that too, until I learned this technique from Pat Wys of Silver Thimble Talk. I think I told you earlier that Pat showed Pat C. and I this method using a napkin in a restaurant in Atlanta. That restaurant had some interesting decor too. This was mounted to the ceiling right above our table.

Why is bias binding better? Number one is strength and durability. The bias is more durable. There is a good reason why the bias binding lasts longer. With a straight of grain binding there is one thread that basically runs along the edge for the length of that strip. When/if that thread breaks, the fabric is weakened and can split more easily. With a bias binding, you have multiple threads that run only short distances; thus there is always less stress on any one thread.

You put a lot of work into making a quilt. So bind it with bias so that it lasts and lasts! Your future family members (or those of the recipient of the quilt) will be so glad you did.

This video will also be accessible on the Videos- Quilting tab on my blog.

Thanks to BOTH Pat Wys and Pat C. for a fun day with some education thrown in to make it even better.

Late Addition: I think I cut one or two more strips sections.This piece of fabric was 26 -28 inches wide when I started. I got roughly 300 inches of bias. This will bind a 70 inch square quilt. I had leftover fabric also.

25 comments:

Great job on this video! I think Pat W told us a formula for figuring how much fabric we needed for a binding....wonder if I have that written down somewhere? If not, I'm sure she'd tell us again. I've not yet done the binding this way, BUT...I still have my napkin from that day at the restaurant when she was "teaching" us how to do this.....while that silly TURKEY watched from his perch above our table!!! LOL

Teresa is a "no-reply" blogger, so I can't answer her directly. This is an Alvin mat that was originally bought for art, not quilting. I also have a green Olfa cutting mat.

I have several brands of rulers. This particular one is a Quilt Sense ruler. My favorite is an Olfa Frosted Advantage; it doesn't slip and it easy to read on both dark and light fabric. I also have rulers by June Tailor and OmniGrid.

Thanks for the Tutorial Gene. I have just days to finish a Wedding Ring Quilt so will use bias around the edge, also with your other idea of putting it on a roll hanging like a necklace. Seeing you do it is great even if I have done it before, its like a test run, before I do the real thing again!

Gene, that was wonderful. I've always avoided cutting bias binding because I thought it was hard. Your video makes it look really easy and fast. I'm definitely going to give it a try on the next quilt I make!

Uhm, that turkey or whatever it is on the ceiling of the restaurant is definitely a "unique" piece of decorative(?) art! LOL!

I do use some bias bindings for my quilts but not all the time. I had not seen this method before so it was very helpful.Thanks for the demonstration. I was particularly interested in the way that you fold it so that you get more continuous binding. The trick would be folding sequence so that you do get more continuous pieces.Hope that you are continuing to feel better.Regards,Anna

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About Me

I am American Indian (Cherokee that I am sure of -possibly other) and Irish (with a few other bits thrown in for good measure)
I paint therefore I am. I create, therefore I am.
Both my grandmothers were quilters, I grew up playing under a quilting frame that was hung from the rafters on the front porch. From that I developed a sense of abstract AND a history with quilting.
I made my very first quilt block in March of 2008. And thus began my journey as a quilter.
Life is like a patchwork quilt. You can make yours bright bold and exciting or you can try to copy your neighbor's pattern. I like to think of mine as a patch of wild flowers with every color and shape I can add.